Method of rendering storage-battery gases non-explosive.



I No. 767,554. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

T. A. EDISON.

. METHOD OF RENDERING STORAGE BATTERY GASES NON-EXPLOSIVE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: I a INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF LLEIVELLYN PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF ORANGE, NEIV JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BATTERY GASES NON-EXPLOSIVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,554, dated August 16, 1904. Original application filed November 28, 1902, Serial No. 133,120. Divided and this application filed June 13, 1904. Serial To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THouAs A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex county, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Method of Rendering Storage- Battery Gases Non-Explosive, of which the following is a specification.

In an application for Letters Patent, filed TO November 28, 1902, Serial No. 133,120, (of which this is a division,)1 have described an improved method of separating mechanicallyentrained globules from gases generated in storage batteries, consisting generally in cansing the gases as they escape from the receptacle to impinge with sufficient velocity against a liquid film as to result in the separation of the entrained globules. In the said application 1 also describe as a supplement to the special method of separating entrained globules the expedient of spreading the escaping gases and passing the same through a cooling medium in order to render them non-explosive. This supplementary method can be and in actual practice has been effectively carried out in connection with the special method, as described, of separating the entrained globules; but nevertheless it is capable of independent use, since the gases escaping from the receptacle can be attenuated and passed through a cooling medium without being subjected to a preliminary treatment for the removal of the entrained globules. The purpose of the present application is to describe and claim this supplementary process as a separate entity.

In order that the invention may be better understoochattention is directed to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this speci- 4 fication, and in which I illustrate a sectional view of one of my improved storage battery cans provided with means for carrying the method into effect, but omitting the device for selzparating the mechanically-entrained globu es.

The can 1, which is made of thin nickelplated steel, is provided with a neck 2, hav- (No model.)

ing a perforated plug 3 therein, and carried by this plug is a deflecting-plate 4 for diffusing the gases escaping through the perforations. 5 At the top of the neck 2 is a suitable cooling medium, through which the gases pass and illustrated as a wire-gauze 5. When the apparatus is not provided with special means for effecting the separation of the mechanicallyentrained globules, the gases will escape continuously through the perforations in the plug 3, but if separating devices are employed the gases will escape intermittingly through these perforations, as I have described in my said ap- 6O plication. The escaping gases will be deflected outwardly by the deflector 1, so as to be comparatively attenuated, and they will escape through the gauze 5 in a highly-rarefied condition. Even if they could ignite on the 5 outside of the gauze the radiating capacity of the latter is sufficient to prevent its becoming hot enough to ignite the gas below it, so that no explosion can take place. This is especially true when the deflector is used, since 7 otherwise there would be danger of a small stream of gas passing directly from each perforation through the gauze in a sufficientlyconcentrated condition as to result in the gauze being dangerously heated.

It will of course be understood that the in vention is applicable for use in any type of storage battery, whether alkaline or acid and wherein gases are generated during use or during the charging operation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The process of rendering non-explosive, gases generated within the electrolyte of a 5 storage battery, which consists in passing the gases through a contracted vent, and in thereafter spreading, diffusing and attenuating the gases, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of rendering non-explosive, 9 gases generated within the electrolyte of a storage battery, which consists in passing the gases through a contracted 'vent, in thereafter spreading, diffusing and attenuating the gases,

and in finally passing the gases through a coolgases through a metallic gauze, substantially ing medium, substantially asset forth. as set forth. I0

3. The process of rendering non-explosive, This specification signed and witnessed this gases generated Within the electrolyte of a 8th day of June, 1904.

5 storage battery, which consists in passing the THOS. A. EDISON.

gases through a contracted vent, in thereafter W'itnesses: spreading, diffusing, and attenuating the FRANK L. DYER,

gases, and in finally passing the attenuating MINA C. MAOARTHUR. 

